Vasco da Gama captain Juninho to miss final two games of the season

By Josh Pedley 2012-11-21 17:05:00 20121121

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Vasco da Gama captain Juninho has suffered a muscular injury in training and will not play again this season. The former Lyon star missed Vasco's 2-1 victory against Coritiba at the weekend through suspension, and has asked not to play again in the Brasileirão this season, so not to make the injury worse.

Juninho, 37, spoke with the club’s executive director, Daniel Freitas, and the club’s physio’s before making the decision, and Freitas was keen to stress that this had nothing to do with the player’s contract talks which are taking place at the moment.

He told Lancenet: “Because of the high number of games he played this year, he is feeling muscle fatigue and it is prudent that he does not play anymore, so to not make the injury worse later on.

“The president now leads this process [contract talks]. I do not believe that this has a connection (with the output of the player). Especially because we will keep working. Do not believe it.”

The player is out of contract at the end of 2012 and, although the player would like to remain at the club, his manager has claimed that Vasco’s awful financial situation may hinder future negotiations.